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Wednesday, April 04, 2012

BOYNTON BEACH, FLA., April 2, 2012—Since sports analogies often are the easiest way to express an opinion, Todd Pletcher, after referencing basketball tournaments when asked about prep races and which horses he thought were the top four Kentucky Derby prospects, said on Tuesday’s NTRA national conference call:

Phone photo by Frank Tufariello

“I would have to make Union Rags a #1 seed, Gemologist a #1 seed, Hansen a #1 seed, and Creative Cause a #1 seed.”

Apparently, Pletcher learned more from the old ball coach and mentor, Hall of Famer Darrell Wayne Lukas, than just the X’s and O’s of running of Division 1 Thoroughbred racing operation.

Had Pletcher, now in New York to saddle his own #1 seed, Gemologist, in Saturday’s Resorts World Casino Wood Memorial wanted to, he could have paid homage to the Wildcats of the Commonwealth by rating Union Rags the top overall Kentucky Derby seed.

If he had the chance to see Union Rags inside barn 7 at the Palm Meadows training center on Monday morning, surely he would have considered doing so, loyalty to Gemologist and WinStar Farm notwithstanding.

What we saw, and what Pletcher would have seen, was a colt with his head buried in a feed tub, peering out only occasionally to check the scene outside his stall. He would have seen Union Rags respond to the whinny of another Barn 7 occupant before again burying his nose into a hay rack, ripping off chunks of digestive aid with wide-eyed attitude and purpose.

“He was really tough early this morning when we got him out [into a paddock pen],” said trainer Michael Matz.

Horses love to get outside, romp around a bit, graze a little, just be a horse, doing what horses do. And this is a guy who loves to do what they were all born to do; run, something he never got a chance to do two days earlier in his final appearance before American racing’s biggest game and Kentucky Derby title.

This was the second straight morning that Union Rags displayed this kind of demeanor. On Sunday morning, the colt was “frisky,” according to Matz; “really tough” the following day.

Throughout our 40-minute visit, his ears were busy as he took in the sights and sounds outside his stall, but mostly the ears were up. From what we could see, his legs were pristine, his eyes bright, as he took a turn at leading the Victory Farm whinny chorus.

His manner made it difficult, if not impossible, to believe he had been in a horse race not 36 hours earlier.

This is a happy individual, one who can be forgiven his early a.m. hissy fits. He is engaged at all times, more than happy to play a little cat and mouse with a stable-hand who was showing the colt plenty of respect while trying to lay alfalfa on the ground inside the stall.

Insead of some equine coronation, the Florida Derby turned out to be a coming out party for the winning Take Charge Indy, a rebirth for his trainer, Patrick Byrne, and redemption for his partner, Calvin Borel, who received little early support from South Florida’s top horsemen, hit the road to Oaklawn Park, then returned to steal Gulfstream’s biggest prize.

“It was a learning experience for Union Rags and hopefully Julien, too,” said Matz. “Julien has to know that there’s a target on his back.

“Javier [on El Padrino] was race-riding and that’s fine. But once he got himself in that position, Javier was more interested in beating Union Rags than the other horses.

“Julien has to be aware of where he is at all times,” Matz continued. “The good thing about it is he will put himself in a better position where he won’t let that happen again.”

Trainer Mike Harrington, who will saddle Creative Cause, the #1 seed in the West Regional, a.k.a. Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby, pretty much saw the Florida Derby the same way.

“[Union Rags] ran a good race,” Harrington said. “I don’t think his people need to be too concerned. It’s just a stepping stone and all he had to do was get a lot out of the race. [Take Charge Indy] got trip, [Union Rags] didn’t.

“That’s just like the Derby; with twenty horses you’ve got to get the trip.”

Creative Cause, the presumed Santa Anita Derby favorite, will race Saturday without blinkers. “The last time [San Felipe] he got to wandering around, so maybe the blinkers off may help him. I certainly don’t want to wait until the Kentucky Derby to find out.”

Ramon Dominguez, who separated his collarbone on the last day of the Aqueduct winter meet, will return to the saddle Friday and will ride Alpha in the Wood. He feels confident that Alpha’s earlier gate issues are behind him.

“He was an angel in the gate last time, and the [Aqueduct] gate crew has been working with him a lot. They tell me he won’t be a problem,” Dominguez said. “The Derby might be different, but with 20 horses it’s the same [concern] for everybody.

As for Union Rags, Matz needs to keep him as happy as he was Monday and squeeze him just right as Derby day approaches.

John Calipari got his first championship later that night. Matz will be looking for his second title a month from now. For Matz, Leparoux and the colt, that day can’t get here fast enough.

Thanks for the upclose update of Union Rags. The name Monarchos does strike a familiar note, that the best 3yo of it’s generation doesn’t always win the Derby. Point Given was clearly better than Monarchos, but not on the first Saturday in May.

This could be another year for the “mid major” in horseracing based on the last two weeks results. Can’t argue with Pletchers’ #1 seeds right now. Baffert, Darley and Team Valor horses are lurking close behind though as strong #2 seeds if you will. The next two weeks will tell us more, man I love this time of the year.

Have no fear, Cat. A #1 seed-type will win this Derby; there’s just too much talent in this class not, too. I think you would only need to go as deep as a #2.

True, Point Given was one of those “best horse” Derby losers. The point vis a vis Monarchos is that he was so impressive in the Florida Derby, was a good-finish third in the Wood then rebounded on Derby Day.

Anyway, this is going to be fun. Anytime you’re looking at a 5-1 favorite gives rise to parimutuel profit

I agree with 2 of the #1 seeds....there will be a new #1 seed after this week-end,in some peoples minds that is....TTT Keeneland opens Friday,Julien does very well at that track...pay attention to the track on Friday,if the track favors speed on Friday, bet the closers on Saturday.....they (grounds crew) have been doing some experiments with the surface this spring,this info from a very good source...trying to make the surface more consistant...remember Churchill last Breeders Cup? Well they went a little to far with it..by the time they saw what was happening and turned on the machines to suction the water out it was to late..horses were running in glue....don’t believe it, talk to anybody that was there. Ask them what the horses looked like after they were done with the race....believe me they were tired.....exhausted is a better word…

Well, I guess things are improving, as Pletcher was mentioned only four times in the above commentary. It appears you are set, or is it determined, to make Union Rags into another Secretariat; here is a horse getting more copy for finishing third than the first and second place horses in Rags’ last race combined. And the excuses are flying in abundance for Rags failure to win.

If Rags does win the Triple Crown Andy will be happy, the topic at the water coolers will be about Rags’ feat for a couple of days, and racing will spike for a week or so.

Those who go with Rags in the Derby will get $5, in the Preakness $4, and in the Belmont $3 for a $2 wager.

I’d rather put $2 on some plodder at Finger Lakes who has raced 35 times, been over the track numerous times, and has clearly displayed his maximum potential. The only considerations to be made are a) does the nag belong in the race, b) is the distance right, c) is the plug in form, and d) who are the trainer and jockey? I don’t have to consider that the horse has never raced on the track, has never gone the distance, carrying lots of weight, and will no doubt be bumped, banged, an incur traffic problems.

To promote the Kentucky Derby as America’s race that represents the pinnacle of Thoroughbred racing, when the only measurement that keeps people interested in racing is making money has mystified me for decades.

Mr. Pricci: I do not understand your comment, “you’re so mired in the cliche that you will say anything to make your point”. Could you please elaborate more, so I can offer a rebuttal.

Your offer of a one-on-one wager is of no interest to me, as I do not wager with friends, people I
basically like, or in fact people period! I wager against associations and corporations who willing take bets, the people involved unknown to me.

Got it. Now, how did you gain, achieve, or earn the right or position to use the terms ‘bad’ and ‘good’ when applied to horse races? Is there really a bad race? From your viewpoint, stake races are good and claiming races are bad, right?
When, in actuality, both stake and claiming races are virtually identical in all aspects, from handicapping to the actual running of the race.

“PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM”: as I have written over and over at HRI, turf writers have contributed to the decline in horse racing with their tunnel vision: reporting on a select number of stake races, trainers, and jockeys, while ignoring the fact that races everwhere, trainers everywhere, and jockeys everywhere are presenting enjoyable and bettable races at pristine racetracks - my mantra!

I have never written that high takeout is good. I have stated over and over that high takeout is not the reason racing is going out of business. One should think that turf writers would take a different approach to reporting on Thoroughbred racing, since the over and over again ritual of reporting on the road to the Kentucky Derby has done nothing to generate new ‘fans’.

How can even an inference be made that racing at Philly is inferior to Belmont, when all thoroughbreds have the same bloodlines?

Why is it that the reason people even give racing a look is because of the ability to gamble; and that this fact is totally ignored?

BTW, are slot machines at Aqueduct and Gulfstream classier and superior to slot machines at Parx or Finger Lakes? People who like to gamble go to the nearest casino; they are not informed that certain casinos offer a better quality slot machine. The same should be said about horse racing.

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I believe your buddy, Parisella, will ‘pop’ Supsa today in 3rd at Aqueduct; the horse stumbled and was blocked in last.

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